CAS radio

[TooBadBrad]

I've seen the posts about poor sound quality from custom autosound units, but no one mentions using a good amp and speakers with them.
I have a USA-5 unit that came with a parts car and was never hooked up. I'm thinking of running it through a good amp and Boston acustics speakers. Anyone tried such a set up, or have a lead on another head unit that fits in the dash?
Thanks
Brad

[MikeB]

Originally Posted by TooBadBrad

I've seen the posts about poor sound quality from custom autosound units, but no one mentions using a good amp and speakers with them.
I have a USA-5 unit that came with a parts car and was never hooked up. I'm thinking of running it through a good amp and Boston acustics speakers. Anyone tried such a set up, or have a lead on another head unit that fits in the dash?
Thanks
Brad

Garbage in = garbage out. I think the CA units have more problems that just poor sound. A very honest vendor (who still sells CA) told me there's better than a 1 in 10 chance a CA radio will fail rout of the box. He's seriously looking for alternatives.

I sure wish Clarion, Sony, Kenwood, etc. would make some decent shaft radios, even if they are the same ones they made up through the 90s. They could probably sell them for 2x what they're getting for comparable DIN radios. And they would last for many years, like the Sony in my pickup that's worked fine since 1998.

[Mel56]

Another option is to leave the original radio in its location and using one of the sony/panasonic/clarion (updated units) that have a "Marine" remote. This is a wired remote and you can have your unit mounted in the trunk or under a seat but, tucked away. With the wired remote you can mount it on your visor/glove box or leave it loose under the seat. This has the read out of your radio station and which cd track you're on. Controls all of that plus volume.

I've decided to go this route instead of the CAS units. For the same reason as Mike states, "garbage in/garbage out".

[r66ss]

Originally Posted by TooBadBrad

I've seen the posts about poor sound quality from custom autosound units, but no one mentions using a good amp and speakers with them.
I have a USA-5 unit that came with a parts car and was never hooked up. I'm thinking of running it through a good amp and Boston acustics speakers. Anyone tried such a set up, or have a lead on another head unit that fits in the dash?
Thanks
Brad

brad
www.retrosoundusa.com
Dont know if this interest you or not?, check link out.

[TooBadBrad]

Retro sound looks good, but does anyone know how they sound? I've done the hidden stereo with remote in my 38 Plymouth, it works OK but not all of the functions are available on the remote. (pioneer). I don't have a stock radio, and like the look & simplicity of having it in the dash.

[Musclerodz]

A buddy of mine did that on his 71 Challenger. Still *****.

[JB55]

I've had a CAS in my car for the last 5 or so years with no problems. The sound quallity is good , it's not a killer sound system but plenty good for what I am after. I don't understand how they can all sound bad if the different modles are made by different companies?

If you have a new one that came with a parts car I would at least give it a shot!

Good luck. JB

[TooBadBrad]

I got alot of good info from Mark at www.vintagevibes.com. Seems that the CAS radios got a major upgrade about a year ago, and are now 100% digital. Mark says quality was so bad on a couple of the old models he quit selling them, but he claims the new stuff is fairly good. Not audiophile quality, but most are very happy.
Anyway, it turns out that the USA 5 I have is obsolete in that a CD changer for it is no longer made. So I will go all new, with a USA-6, CD changer, external amp and pioneer speakers as per Marks recomendation. He has a good return policy if I don't like it.
Anyone want a usa 5 for cheap?